Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-03-29
THE KNIGHTS OF LABOR.
Cardinal GibbOns' Defense OF the
Institution.

Cardinal GtbbOnss Defense OF tn,
Institution.
ROME, March 28.--The text of Cardi
nal Gibbons report on the Knights o
Labor, as published in the Moniteur d.
Rome, shows that several additions hav,
been made to the report as originall,
published. Referring to the objections
urged against the organization, the
Cardinal says: ut is objected thai
in this kind of Organization Cath
olics mix with Protestants, to the
peril of their faith. Among mixed peo
pie, like ours, the separation of religions
IN civil affairs is not possible. To sup
pose that the faith of the Catholics suf-
fers. shows ignorance Of the Catholic
workmen of America, who regard the
church as their mother. They are in
telligent, instructive, devoted and ready
to give their blood, as they give then
hard earned gain, for her support
aud protectection." To the ques.
tion whether it would not be
better to have the organizations con-
Quoted under the influence of religion,
the Cardinal frankly replies that he
thinks it neither possible or necessary
SIN our countries" he says, 1--WE have
abundant means of making Catholics
good without going 80 far. II being OBJ
jected that the liberty of the organiza-
ton exposes Catholiolty to deadly iuflu
ences and associates, more dangerous
han even atheists, communists and
Anarchists, the Cardinal said it was
true, but that an attentive examination
INTO violent struggles between labor and
capital has convinced him of the inius.
tice of attributing violence to the
Knights. Their principal authorities
nave proved the fact that it is as unrea.
sonable to attribute violence to the
Knights as to attribute to the Church
ths tollies and crimes Of her children.
against which she protests. This
thought is admirably developed by the
CarhiDal. He says that the part of
the Christian prudence is to attempt to
bind the hearts of the multitude with
the ties Of the Lord for the purpose of
controlling them by the principles of
faith, justice and charity, and to recog-
nize the truth and justice Of
their cause. Removed from what is
false and criminal there will converge in
the legitimate, peaceable, benefcent
struggle, that which by repulsive sever.
ity might become for the masses of the
people volcano or abyss similar to
that which society fears and which
the church deplores in Europe. The
Cardinal insists strongly and at length
on this point. He then refers to the
aspect of our country aud that
of the popular power, regulated by
the love of order, respect of religion,
obedience to the laws; not democracy
of license and violence, but the true
democracy. In speaking of scenes Of
violence, even to the shedding of blood,
which have characterized several strikes
inaugurated by workingmen's asso.
Citations, the Cardinal says: II
have three things to remark,
first, that strikes are not an invention
of the Knights of Labor but the uni.
versal, perpetual means by which
workingmea protest against what is un.
just and demand their rights. Second,
in such struggles Of multitudes of the poor
against hard obstinate monopoly, wrath
and violence are often inevitable and the
principal authorities of the Knights so
far from encouraging violence or occas-
ions for violence, exercised powerful
influence, seeking to keep
the strikes within the limits of legitimate
action,